A Sky Full of Stars

Starred review from April 10, 2017
In this exceptional fifth Shaughnessy Brothers contemporary (after This Is Our Song), when aspiring artist Brooke Matthews and astrophysicist Owen Shaughnessy connect, their desire burns brighter than the North Star and their union paints the perfect picture of “opposites attract.” Brilliant, shy Owen has always felt socially awkward. Brooke, who used to taunt her brainiac brother, has since turned over a new leaf. When she signs up to be Owen’s assistant, they are immediately drawn to each other. Owen sees the passion, sweetness, and humility in Brooke, and she’s captured by his honesty, chivalry, and charm. But he’s daunted by her looks, and she’s intimidated by his intellect. With the encouragement of Owen’s fun-loving and carefree family members and Brooke’s uncle Howard (who’s Owen’s mentor), they both overcome their anxieties. The openness between the lovers is refreshing, and their interactions are a balanced blend of sweet and spice. The planets may not have aligned, but the elements of this winning romance are definitely in sync. Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group.

April 15, 2017
An artist and an astronomer are brought together through admiration of the night sky's beauty.Though the novel gets off to a slow start, that can be seen as a direct reflection of the main characters' personalities--Brooke is a self-conscious artist named after a model, Owen is a shy astrophysicist--when they first meet through Brooke's uncle. The book could have fallen apart, but Chase (Speed Dating, 2017, etc.) focuses on the humanity of her characters, which turns out to be the most rewarding part of the story. Brooke's anxiety about love is acutely portrayed; she wonders if Owen is involved with another woman, or if he finds her attractive, and how her feelings will play into their future business dealings together--specifically, a stargazing trip Owen is planning to lead in the deserts of Nevada and which Brooke is going to assist him on. Their first kiss is especially satisfying in that Owen unravels; although it initially seems his only desire is to study the stars, his desire to know and love Brooke turns out to be as vast as the galaxy he's committed his life to understanding. While this new layer of his character seems natural, his and Brooke's sudden decision to hop on a flight to Las Vegas ahead of the pre-planned desert trip seems too far out of character. However, the unusual circumstances do push both lovers to their limits; whereas tension in historical romance is often accumulated through class differences or social expectation, the catalyst here is more psychological in tone. Both Brooke and Owen simply fear rejection. A sweet romance that takes its time to court the reader: classic, thoughtful, and sometimes as lyrical as the stars.

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